General election 2017: how will the hospitality industry be affected?

19th April 2017

Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to hold a snap election on June 8, saying that the decision is ‘the only way to guarantee certainty for the years ahead’ post-Brexit.

The provision of staff will be a key concern for the hospitality industry in this election. A report commissioned by the British Hospitality Association (BHA) estimates that at least 15% of the UK hospitality workforce is from the EU, rising to 65% in some London businesses. The report expressed concerns that the staffing demand to maintain industry growth cannot be met by UK workers alone. ‘The Government needs to ensure that the UK is, and is perceived to be, open for business for visitors, hospitality and tourism’, the report states.

British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) Chief Executive Brigid Simmonds suggested that the election would be a chance to highlight key issues in the industry as Britain prepares to leave the EU. Commenting on the announcement, she said: ‘we will not hesitate to use the election to highlight both the challenges and the opportunities for brewing and pubs’. She also echoed the staffing concerns of the BHA report, saying ‘we need to continue to attract those with the right skills’.

Calling the hospitality industry ‘a lynchpin of the UK economy’, the BHA called upon the support of the Government ‘in both economic and policy terms’.

All eyes will be on the best candidate to address these concerns come June 8.